Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-06-02
MATTE MORGANs' LIFE.
An English Girl Who Has Served as
Locomotive Fireman and Engineer.

For some time there has been good deal
of quiet talk among the railroad men In this
vicinity of the singular discovery made by
the officers of the NaugarucK Hallway Com
pany that a woman disguised in male attire
had been running an engine on their road
for many months, says Bridgeport Conn.
correspondent To the N. y. Star. The he
roine Is an English girl named Matte Nor
gans, who came 10 this country about two
years ago after serving her apprenticeship
as stoEer on the Great Northern railway, be-
tween London and Edinburgh. She con-
cealed her sex SO cleverly that she readily
secured "A position as fireman on the Nauga-
tuck railroad and was eventually promoted
TO the post of engineer, first on freight and
afterward on passenger locomotive, post
which she might have held 10 this day but
| for her voluntarily retirement about six
months ago.
Five years ago Matte Morgans then a
pretty girl Of nineteen, fell in love with Tom
Winnan, an engineer of the "Flying Scotch
man." Toms run was from Kings Station,
London, % York and return alternate days.
The"Flying Sotchman's" service includes
train fromEdinburgh and one fromLondon,
leaving each day AT ten a. m, and passing
at York The total distance is four hundred
miles the time, nine honrs These trains
carry the royal mail. The Government con-
tract calls for forfeiture of pound ster-
| ling for every minute the train is behind
the schedule time, which seldom happens.
1t is not an uncommon thing in England
and Scotland 10 find mans work performed
| by women, and what more natural than in
| this case 10 find womans love of adventure,
curiosity and love overcoming all objec-
| tions A short time only was required 10
| bring about her plans. With Toms earnest
assistance she was duly installed as stoker
under his charge, her rough fustian suit and
face purposely besmeared with coaldust and
oil, completely Disgusting Toms sweetheart
Day after day the "Flying Scotchman," en-
gine No. 362, with seven foot drivers, and
| just from the shops at Dundoon, flew over
the rails Mt the rate of fifty-two seconds 20
the mile-Honest Toms hand ON the throt-
tie and his sweetheart fighting at the fire.
box. never minded ss.~ 49, s'nan. IN e
dust the roar, neither confusion nor fa-
tigue for Toms CHEEKY words and encour-
aging smile were ever ready, and his strong
! arms saving her the heavy burdens from
J day 20 day. Ii was her pride 10 keep the
steam guage pointing at high-pressure mark.
| She understood the duties Of oiling and
1 l.Ia aud n Al
out the CRATE or ''set the guide cups"
The engine had no cab, but instead the
conventional English dashboard, an almost
useless thing against a storm. IL was not
long before her face became weather-beaten,
which. together with the coal-dust and
CRIME, made the chance of discovering her
identity less and less. Tom was very care
| full. He watched TO see that no meddling
engineer should observe that his "stoker"
was n woman So matters went on for
nearly year. Tom and she were TO have
been married. With the forethought of
Traddles, in David Copperfield," bits of
| furniture and household utensils were
bought. and the day looked forward too for
happy housekeeping but fate had decreed
otherwise. Tom Winnan was killed. He
was run over in the switch yard by shunt-
ed car and died within an hour, his head
upon his "stoker's" lap. It was then, when
in her anguish, Matte Morgans' grief be-
| trayed her womanhood.
She fled the country and came TO the u
nited States. Her stock of money began TO
dwindle. What to do next puzzled her.
| The situation daily became more alarming.
Desperate at last she determined TO disguise
herself and apply 10 some railroad master
of motive power for place rs fireman.
She was not long in securing situation
upon a Connecticut railroad, and after serv-
ing for nearly two years was appointed -
engineer of freight locomotive
Perhaps her experience is best told in her
own words.
eyes, was appointed engineer of the
night freight. | had n seventy-four-mile
run, and old or was my engine The first
night ran n forward strap of the main rod
broke disconnected the main rod, cover
ed the ports, wedged up and fastened the
'cross head and crawled twenty miles
with only one side working, losing no less
than one hour of my running time. Then l
got stalled in an upgrade and stood there
until morning for n relief engine. l sup
pose you would think 1t strange il 1 should
tell you that have been inside of my en-
gine's fire box, but of course it was cold. l
have also been inside the spark arrester and
shifted the diaphragam. Once while run
ming passenger train keyed up and fas-
tened slipped eccentric. We We're run
ming forty miles an hour when il happened.
shut of, gave her sand, turned the air.
cock for brakes and brought up the train all
standing. My fireman and l crawled un-
der the forward driver axle and pried the
eccentric into place. The passengers gath
cred about and looked on. Ny fireman
climbed back into the cab and worked the
lever until the links came into place. and
then frightened the set screws holding the
eccentric in place. could not adjust the
throw to a nicely, and in consequence the
lead was trifie off on one side, 50 that
when we started again the exhaust barked
unevenly, sounding like the exhaust of an
engine not properly 'quartered.' Iperform-
ed the job in six minutes which drew con-
siderable attention from railroad men. L
received letter of recommendation from
the superintendent, and was shortly there
after given the'day express to run. l nev-
er had any serious accident, but have kill
ed two men. One was walking on the
track l blew and blew for him, but he did
not hear me and was struck. The other
man attempted to drive his wagon over a
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